Killzone: Mercenary features the classic Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch modes you would expect, with up to 8 players online at once. However the "bread and butter" of the Killzone franchise has always been the "Warzone" mode, whereby the game switches between gameplay modes 5 times and whichever team ends with the most points at the end will win, receiving a larger prize at the end of the match. Warzone is back, but there are a few changes this time around. Fans of the series will be familiar with "Bodycount", but "Hacker", "Interrogation" and collecting "Valor Cards" are all new features to be explored in the single player and add a great deal to the multiplayer.

There is an addictive element in this game that is hard to pinpoint, but it may be the combination of the frenetic gameplay, the leveling up system and custom load outs that are incredibly in depth. Each one lets you create a class of soldier that you can choose every time you respawn to match the different gameplay modes. The addition of "Van-Guards" is also a game changer, not only for the series but as a tool to sway the balance of a multiplayer map. These timed power ups can be purchased and charged up to use whenever you need or simply attained from a random Van-Guard capsule drop in the middle of a round. They include simple things like a radar jammer to the ability to launch directed missile strikes.

The biggest drawback of Killzone: Mercenary is the size of the game. The download is a little over 3.5GB and if you want to play online you need to download an additional a 1.1GB patch. This means a 4GB memory card will not cut it, and I really would have appreciated the option to delete the single player campaign once I felt I no longer needed it. That way I could have jumped into the multiplayer mode only, similar to what Sony have showed off on the upcoming PlayStation 4 title; Killzone: Shadowfall.

If you are looking for a shooter for the Vita then look no further. Killzone: Mercenary is leaps and bounds above every other shooter on the platform, and is quite possibly the best handheld shooter ever made. You could even compare it to some of the top shooters on the consoles and it would still hold its ground quite well. This is a must-own game for a Killzone fan, shooter enthusiasts and anyone looking for a fun multiplayer game on a handheld.

9.9

Graphics

Fantastic graphics for a handheld title, truly console quality.

8.0

Sound

Not as much of a story as I would have liked, but good sound effects and score.

8.5

Gameplay

Very good for the most part, with the exception of the stealth mechanics.